Kevin O'Higgins

Kevin Christopher O'Higgins (7 June 1892-10 July 1927) was Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State from 6 December 1922 to 10 July 1927, preceding Ernest Blythe.

Biography
Kevin Christopher O'Higgins was born in Stradbally, County Laois, Ireland on 7 June 1892, one of sixteen children. He was expelled from St. Patrick's College for breaking the non-smoking rules, and he attended University College Dublin. In 1915, he joined the Irish Volunteers, and he became a Sinn Fein member of parliamnet from County Laois. O'Higgins was appointed Vice-President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State in 1922, serving in this post for five years; he served as W.T. Cosgrave's deputy during the Irish Civil War. In 1927, he was shot dead by three Irish Republican Army gunmen while on the way to mass in Dublin.